Apparatus for cleaning flat bottom grain tanks with side draw-off



April 30, 1957 E. L. MCCARTHY Y APPARATUS FOR CLEANING FLAT BOTTOM GRAIN TANKS WITH SIDE DRAW-INPE` 2 ASheet's-SheeI 1 Filed Oct. 8. 1954 24 s) as sa m vmfma 111.;

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APPARATUS FOR CLEANING FLAT BOTTOM GRAIN ATANKS WITH SIDE DRAW-OFF Filed Oct. 8, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .9.47 I l .9. 20 1 i 2' 4 9 3 M70/ways.

United States Patent APPARATUS FOR CLEANING FLAT BOTTOM GRAIN TANKS WITH SIDE DRAW-OFF Edwin L. McCarthy, Kansas city, M0.

Application October 8, 1954, Serial No. 461,105

9 Claims. (Cl. 214-17) The invention relates to apparatus for cleaning at bottom grain tanks, and more particularly to a pivotally connected auger mechanism for use in the bottom of the tank having an opening therein near the side thereof to remove the grain from the tank through said opening.

Heretofore, various apparatus including augers have been employed to remove grain or other material from the bottom of bins, tanks or the like which will not flow out by gravity through the drawfoff openingor hole. Usually theopening has been in the center of the tank or bin4 so that the auger would be rotatable around the opening to remove the grainfromthe oor thereof. No one prior to the present invention so far as applicant is aware has provided an auger arrangement for` removing grain or the like from a bin 'where the opening is in the bottom at one side of theV bin.

)'.vt` is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide an auger mechanism for the removal of Tgrain which will not flow by gravity through the bottom opening of the tank wherein a second augerV is pivoted to the support for one end of the first auger and adapted to rotate therearound in substantially a complete circle. Other objects of the present invention are to provide an auger for attachment to the side of a grainbin ortheA i like provided with a motor for rotating the augerand the opposite end of the auger being supported byfa platform havingrposts or the like for engaging the bottom of the grain bin for initially moving the grain which will not flow by gravity through the opening in the bottom o f the y tank; to provide a motor driven second auger having one end pivotally connected to the platform ofthe first auger andthe opposite end being supported by a wheel forro` tation about the bottom of the grain tank when the motor is in operation; to provide troughs alongside the respective augers for guiding of the grain to the opening'in the bottom of the tank, the trough for the first auger having an opening near the platform end thereof, thegrain trough for the second auger also having an openingnear the platform end so that operation of the second auger will` carry the grain toward the platform end of the rst auger and the grain be deposited through the opening inthe' trough so that the first augerV will carry the grain to the opening in the bottom of the grain tank; to provide means having one end connected to the first trough and the other end carried by the second trough whereby grain will be guided into the trough opening and being prevented from flowing to the clean surface behind the second auger; to provide resilient means for the grain guiding means so that when the second auger is rotated about its pivot the said means will be extended to follow the auger around' the platform and to guide the grain to the first auger; to provide stop means for the respective motors for deenergizing said motors upon completion of cleaning of the the preferred` formslof which are illustrated in companying drawings, whereinz- Fig. 1 is a plan view of my apparatus shown in the bottom of a grain tank in position where part of the tank has been cleaned.

Fig. 2 is a planview of my invention with parts broken away to better illustrate the structure.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the Fig.'8 is a plan view of the apparatus particularly il- A' lustrating the second or auxiliary auger inthe position afterthe oor of the tank has been cleaned.A

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view particularly illustrating the platform support andthe belt for guiding of the g'rainff' to the troughs. y n Y Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a grain tank or the likev having an opening 2in the bottom 2 for removal of material therefrom,

the opening being near 4one 'side of the tank. Anl L'shaped bracket is securedy to the Aside lof the grain bin by bolts or the like 4.Y Mounted Vontheliange 5 of the bracket is a plate 6 for mounting of a motor 7 through a frameyworkstructure 8 including chain gears (not shown) in ahousing 9 for operating an lauger 10 with a shaft 1W having spirals 11 for moving o f `the grain through the open-v` ing 2 as will later be' shown. The outer end ofthe shaft 10 engages in a bearing 11 secured to a'de'pendi'ng arm 12 of a platform 13 of vsubstantially semicircular shape. 'i The platform is supported by a plurality of posts 14 hav# ing pointed lower ends 15 for engaging the bottom r2 of the grain tank to prevent slippage thereon.

The motor 7 is supported by a plate 16 secured tothe "framework 8 and secured to the framework 8 and extend-l v i ing along one side of the auger 10 is a trough 17 for guidf ing of the grain moved byther spirals 11 of the auger when the motor is operating to drive `said auger. rThe trough 17 is shown as being substantially U-shaped with v one `liange thereof welded or otherwise secured tothe frame 8 as indicated at 18 (Fig. 5) and has its opposite ends welded or otherwise secured to the plaftorm 13 as indicated at 19 (Fig. 2). The end of the trough near the platform is cut away as indicated at 20 for a purpose later described. v

With the invention thus far described, when it isY de- .i

siredv to clean a grain tank bottom the auger 10 with its motor is placed inside of the tank usually through an opening (not shown) in the side thereof and the' motor frame 8 through the plate 6 is secured to the flange 5 of the bracket 3 by pins or the like 21 engagingV in openings 22 in said liangeS.Y The motor end of the auger 10 is placed directly over the opening v2 and its outer end extended to substantially rthe center of the tank where the posts 14 will contact the grain and the platform 12 rest on top thereof. Energization ofthe motor 7 will rotate the auger 10 in a clockwise direction, v the spirals 11 thereof being placed so that the grain..` will be moved toward the opening 2. As the auger fof tates the platform 12 will sink toward the oor2" of the tank and the ends of the posts come to rest thereon when the grain is removed therefrom. When all vof the grain has been removed which the auger 10 will reach, a sec- I ond auger 23 is placed alongside the auger. 10 as kbeSlf illustrated in Fig. 2. l

Patented Apr. 30, 1957 the `raC-j l The second auger assembly 23 comprises a shaft 24 and' spirals 25 so arranged that they williiivehe grain in the opposite direction to the spirals on the auger 10,. The motor 26 .ismounted on a framework.

structure' 27 includingV a gear.. houhsi'ngl 2,81if'or. rotatingf shaft 24,through chain A2.9 engaginggearscn the auger shaft' l24and 'the 'motorshaftSQ Shaft 24ofMt-he. auger extends outwardly from the" gear housing 2Q andV coniprisesan axle 3lV for a wheel 32 forsupportii-lg the outer end of the auger 23 withyitsniotor'and driving mechanism and having a friction'clutch 33 at the outer endof'th'ea'xle. n l (i Y i The opposite end of the shaft.24:istpivotallyfmounted 011)..a11pa'rm 34, through piu 35, atonefend. Athereof rand the opposite end of the'arriifbeingpiyotally'montedon. a pin 36I extending through` theplatffrmfS' asbest. illus trated in"Fi'g.'2`. A trnpla'te '37 'Seoul-edito the 4p'in`35r which securesv the 1augertshaft 24, to the plateV 34 and renews" around the 'circular edge's's f the prenoml 1a-V when the device is in operation as will later be shown.U Secured to one side of the turnplate 37 by a pin 39` is an arm 40 which engages on the underneath side ofl the tunplate 37 as best illustrated inFig. 7. Y

A grain trough 41" is providedvfor the auger 23` and has one end secured'to a motor mounting plate' 42, Fig. 3, audits other end secured to the arm 40: by a bolt or the like 43. The end of the trough near the pivoted end of the auger 23- is also provided with anopening 44 as best illustrated in Fig'. 6 to cooperate with the opening fin the trough 17.

Secured to the trough 17 at the edge of the opening 20`thereof by bolts or the like 46 is -a belt or the like 47`Isub'stantially the same width as the trough which'is adapted to engage over and connect the edge of the opening'y 44 in the trough 41 and extends valong the inner, sid'e 'of the trough 41 when the trough is in the position shown in Fig. '2., Theybelt has its opposite ends secured to a'coil spring 4S as indicated at 49 and the opposite end of the lcoil springris secured to the trough nea-fthe motor mounting asindicated at 50, Fig. 2, to provide tension on the belt and preventthe grain from lterin'gor passing between the troughsupon operation of the augers.

In. order to give further support to theauger 23 I have provided two dolly wheels Sland 52 lwith frames 53`a'ndA 54 we1ded or otherwisesuitably secured to the insidefof the trough 41 substantially underneath the rnoto'r' 26.v

inoperation of the two'augers as thus far described f energi'zation ofthe motor 26 wil 1V cause theauger 23 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, the spirals 25 carrying the grain toward the center of the tankfand through` thefopening 440i the grainV troughf41fand,

throu'ghthe opening20` in the grain trough v174 where,

the auger 10 will rpick up the grain vand carry itV to k the opening 2 Yin the bottom of the tank.V The ag'errlfis operated in a clockwise direction so as to carry the grain to the opening.v As the auger23 rotates it will a be forced into the grain by the rotation of the wheel 32 through the yfriction clutch 33. The. auger 23 willA rotate; or revolve .about the pivotv bolt 3S, and. eat its wayinto the grain and augering the .grain toward the center of the binand to auger 10Y as abo'vepstated. The auger 23 will pivot about the .pivot pin 25 without movementgof the arm 34 for a distance of about90fdef.

Fig." i2. There .is also a .stop A56 ontheoppositefcorner of the ,platinum to prevent thearmffrorn.passingfrontr intensifie t The belt 47 isa principal feature of the present. invert-.

theplatforni whenit is on the Isidegof*.theauger; Iblei-.

. gresand then it willrevolverabout the pin 36because aeeopea f E? tion and operates to olose valve opening 44 in the trough 41 to prevent the'grain from going back to the clean portion of the oor as the auger 23 moves therearound as best illustrated in Fig. l. It will be obvious however that the belt guides the grain through the opening 44 until the auger assumes a substantially straight line position with auger 10 or until ,the belt contacts the leg 14 onv the corner of the platform and then as the auger `continu-es around the platform the belt contacts the remaining leg and also the pin 43 which extends below the varm 20 as best illustrated in Fig. 9. In other'words, the openings act as valves for the grain to pass through'and the belt operates as a closure for the valve. y

A stop switch arm 57 is provided on the motor 7 and motor 26 is provided with a stop switch arm 58 so that when the arms contact, both motors will be deenergized to. stop thel mechanism.

It'will be obviousfrom the foregoing that I havevA- provided` anv improved auger ,arrangement whereby the v grain which will not liow by gravity out of an opening l in the bottom of a grain tank at the sides thereof maybe removed wherebyr one end of auger is pivoted with respect to the one` end of the other and a belt arrangement is providedl for Athe grain troughs to guide the grain Yfrom oneauger to the other.

What rI claim and desire to secure byLetters Patentis: 1. In combination kwith a` storage tankv having a discharge opening in the bottom near one side thereof, anA auger, means for mounting one end ofsaid auger over; said openiug,means rotating said auger, means forsup- Y porting the free end of` said auger, a second auger pivot-. ally mounted on lsaid supporting means vfor the kfree-end of the tirstauger, ameanssupporting the free end of the secondnauger, means including a motor for rotating saidsecond `auger and` saidrwheel, a grain` trough for the drstV auger |carried by the means .for ysupporting said auger,- thejouterend ofthe troughhavingjan opening `for passage of grain therethrough-from the/second auger, a grain trough for the secondyauger havingne end supported by the, supporting means` therefor, anv opening in said trough near theouter end thereof,; meansl for securing the free end ofthe second .trough-to the means for. supporting the freeendof the iirstauger, grain directing means extendingbetween the opening in, the first trough and the, second trough near themotor mounting and overthe edge of they opienilifgtinv the seeondtrough whereby said motor willcause the`Y secondqaugerto move the grain.

through .said openings` inthe troughs tothe 'lirst 4auger and rotation ofV said .last-named auger will carrythe grain.-

to the floor opening.

2.,-In Vcombination with arstorage tankfhaving a dis clrargeopeningin the ,bottom near one :side thereof, an

raugen.,rnc-raus for mountingone.- end of said augenoven said opening,v means-for rotatingsaid auger, a platform` for supporting the free endnof saidaugerpa second auger,`

means pivotally mounting'said.- second augeron said platf formra wheel. for supporting the 4free endrof the `second auger, means including a motor for rotating said second auger and `said wheel, a graintrough for Atheiirst yauger carried ,by the means for supporting said 'auger and by saidplatfornn. the outer end of the.v trough' having an opening for lpassage of grain therethrough from the second auger,a, grain trough for the second auger having one end supported' by the-wheel supporting means, means' the .grain to the yfloor opening.

3.-.In.I combinationkwith a 4 storage-tank having a -disl4 avenues charge opening in the bottom near one side thereof, an

auger, means for mounting one end of said auger over said opening, means for rotating said auger, means for supporting the free end of said auger, -a second vauger pivotally mounted on said -supporting means for the free end of the rst auger, a wheel for supporting the free end of the second auger, meansincluding a motor for rotating said second auger and said wheel, a grain trough for the first auger carried bythe means for supporting said auger, the outer end of the trough having an opening for passage of grain therethrough from the second auger, a grain trough for the second auger having one end supported by the wheel supporting means, an opening in said trough near the outer end thereof, means for securing the free end of the second trough to the means for supporting the free end of the rst auger, and means connected to the edge of the opening in the rst auger land to the secondl auger whereby the grain from said augers will be directed away from the cleared surface of the oor, and the second auger will move the grain through said openings in the troughs to the rst auger `and rotation of said last-named auger will carry the grain to the iloor opening;V

4. In combination with a Istorage tank having a discharge opening in the bottom near one side thereof, an auger, means for mounting one end of said auger over said opening, means for rotating said auger, a platform for supporting the free end of said auger, a second auger, means pivotally mounting said second auger on said platform, a wheel for supporting the free end of the second auger, means including a motor for rotating said second auger and said wheel, a grain trough for the rst auger carried by the means for supporting said auger and by said platform, the outer end of the trough having an opening for passage of grain therethrough from the second auger, a grain trough for the second auger having one end supported by the wheel supporting means, means for securing the free end of the second trough to the mounting means for the second auger on said platform, an opening in such trough near the outer end thereof, and means connected to the edge of the opening in the iirst auger and to the second auger whereby the grain from said augers will be directed away from the cleared surface of the oor, and the second auger will move the grain through said openings in the troughs to the first auger and rotation of said last-named auger will carry the grain to the oor opening.

5. In combination with a storage tank having a discharge opening in the bottom near one side thereof, an auger, means for mounting one end of said auger over said opening, means for rotating said auger, a platform for supporting the free end of said auger, a second auger, means pivotally mounting said second auger on said platform, a wheel for supporting the free end of the second auger, means including a motor for rotating said second auger and said wheel, a grain trough for the lirst auger carried by the means for supporting said auger and by said platform, the outer end of the trough having an opening for pasage of grain therethrough from the second auger, a grain trough for the second auger having one end supported by the wheel supporting means, means for securing the free end of the second trough to the mounting means for the second auger on said platform, an opening in such trough near the outer end thereof, and resilient means connected to the edge of the opening in the rst auger and to the second auger whereby the grain from said augers will be directed away from the cleared surface of the oor, and the second auger will move the grain through said openings in the troughs to the first auger and rotation of said last-named auger will carry the grain to the lioor opening.

6. Apparatus for removing grain from a storage tank having a discharge opening in the bottom near one side thereof, an auger, means for mounting one end of said auger` over said opening, means `for .rotating said auger,

a substantially semicirculafplate for supporting the free end of said auger, legsY fornsaid plate, an arm pivotally 'secured to said plate, Ia v'second auger, means, pivotally mounting thev second auger on'the free end vof said IarmA including a turnplatefor. following the semicircular portion of said plate, a wheel for supporting the free end of the second auger, means including 'avmotor for rotating ing one end supported bythe `wheel Vsupporting means.

andits other end to. said last-named arm, an openingA in such trough near the outer end thereof, whereby opera-v tion Yof ysaid motor will `cause the second lauger to ymove the lgrain through said openings in the troughs to the rst auger -and rotation of saidlast-named augenwillv carry the grain to the floor opening,

7. -Apparatus for removing grain from -a storage vtank having a discharge opening in the bottom near one side thereof, an auger, means for mounting one end of said Iauger over said opening, means for rotating said auger, a substantially semicircular plate for supporting the free end of said auger, legs for said plate, an arm pivotally secured to said plate, a second auger, means pivotally mounting the second auger on the free end of said arm including a turnplate for following the semicircular portion of said plate, a wheel for supporting the free end of the second auger, means including a motor for rotating said second auger and said wheel, a grain trough for the first auger carried by the means for supporting said auger, the outer end of the trough having an opening for passage of grain therethrough from the second auger, an arm on said turnplate, a grain trough for the second auger having one end supported by the wheel supporting means and its other end to said last-named arm, an opening in such trough near the outer end thereof, a belt of a width substantially equal to said troughs, means securing one end of the belt to the edge of the opening in the first trough, said belt extending over the edge of the opening in the second auger and extending along the inside of said trough, and resilient means securing the free end of the belt to said second trough near said motor mounting, said belt being of a length with said tensioning means to allow said belt to extend around the legs of said plate and close the opening i-n the second trough to prevent v the grain from moving to the cleaned floor surface.

8. Apparatus for removing grain from a storage t-ank having a discharge opening in the bottom near one side thereof, an auger, means for mounting one end of said auger over said opening, means for rotating said auger, a substantially semicircular plate for supporting the free end of said auger, legs for said plate, an arm pivotally secured t-o said plate, a second auger, means pivotally mounting the second auger on the free end of said arm including a turnplate for following the semicircular portion of said plate, a wheel for supporting the free end of the second auger, a friction clutch for said wheel, means including a motor for rotating said second auger and said wheel, a grain trough for the first auger carried by the v means for supporting said auger, the outer end of the trough having an opening for passage of grain therethrough from the second auger, an -arm on said turnplate, a grain trough for the second auger having one end supported by the wheel supporting means and its other end to said last-named arm, said means including a downwardly extending pin, an opening in said trough near the pivoted end thereof, a belt of a width substantially equal to said troughs, means securing one end of the belt to the edge of the opening in the first trough, said belt extending over the edge of the opening in the second auger and extending along the inside of said trough,

antreslent meansv` securing":the freeA end of the` belt te' saidfbeltlto extend' around thelegs of' said plate yand said; pirrsecuring the' second; trugliV tot saidarm on the' turnplate and close the loper-nginthe second troughto' preventtthe 'grain from mvin'g tothe cleaned floor sur facei jafter the auger vhas 'passed' thereovet.'

9.1Apparatus' forrem'oving grain fromalstoragetank havin-ga dischargeopenin'g .inthe b'ottonfnear oneV side thereof, `anA auger, 'means'for'mountin'gone end` of 'said'v auger over' said"opening,":meansA for' rotating said' auger,

a substantially 'semicircular plate for supporting the' free secured tcH said plate, "av secondfjauger; m'ea'ns pivotally mounting the: secondl auger' on' the' freeen'd of 'said Y arm` including ia. turnplate'foi" following the semicircu'lar por# of 'the second auger,` a' friction cluth forsaid' wheel,

means including la motor for rotating `said second'auge'fZ audsaid'wheel, a grain trough for the'iirst auger carried by"the means` forsupportingisad auger, the'ou'ter 'e'n'd ofthe trough having anopeuing for passage of Ygrain' means having-oneendsecured to the edgeof the'open ingiltlie4 rsit' trough' and extending' over' the edgef'of the'f openinginJ these'cond autg'erand along' the inside `of said trough"` audhaving itsfother end 'secured' 'to' the' seti` ngftheseeond trou'gh to said arm onthe'turnplate and closing theopenig in thesecohdtrough' to 'prevent the" 1,452'1524" 'Rebinssa" JFeb; 5, 1924i 2,637,959'` BeanY Apf. 21, 193.6A 9525125 Bean ocr. '20, 1936"' 1. u. M--k 

